Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-08-06
THE KNIGHTS IN POLITICS.

In an interview with our Philadelphia
correspondent, published elsewhere in
to-days Lea,icr. Mr.. Carlton of the r.
of J.. Executive Board, makes a plain
statement Of his opposition to independ-
ent political action, and, while speaking
for himself alone, intimates that the
other members of the board entertain
the same ,lniavorablc views IN to the
formation of n Labor Party. The reason
he gives is simply that Labor can secure
greater benefits by selling its vote to
such politicians rs may be willing to bid
for it with pledges than by running its
own candidates; III support Of which he
points with satisfaction to the Legislative
results obtained last year in Massaclnl-
setts through the application of this pol
icy. under his own direction.
Labor has 80 long been subjected to
humiiations of the most degrading char
acter without any sort of compensation,
that we shall not criticise too harshly
anyone who thinks that the working peo-
pie may wisely continue to submit for a
time mt least, To a sacrifice of political
manhood in order to secure some sub
stantial improvement in their economic
condition. But we contend, 0) that no
improvement worth the sacrifice has been
or can ever be obtained in this way; and
(2) that Organized Labor, however con-
servative some of its leaders may be, Is
fast realizing the absolute necessity of
independent political action.
In the first place, Massachusetts, is un-
doubtedly the most advanced of our
States in the matter of so-called Labor
legislation. And yet, what is the con-
dition Of her laboring people, especially
| in the boot and shoe manufacture and in
the great textile industries, which are
| the pride of the mis- named Common
wealth. Mr.. Carleton, who is n prom
inent figure among the Knights of Labor
Of that State, will bear us out in the as-
sertion that the misery Of Massachusetts,
operatives is not surpassed in any part
of this country. What, are, then, those
Labor laws" to which Mr. Carlton
points with satisfaction, although their
effect on the economic condition of the
wage earners is SO little apparent? Nine
teen of them were passed with a great
flourish of trumpets by the last Legisla.
| bHGt. lllt lHuSt tttiip vi liNii a'S
simply police and sanitary regulations
directed against the criminal practices
of certain employers who neglected to
provide the most ordinary safeguards
for the protection of life and limb, used
child labor in cleaning machinery, kept
their factories ill ventilated and did not
allow sufficient time for meals to young
people and women. We do not under
estimate their value by observing that
they are of the same order as similar
laws for the protection of beasts of bur
den, and that the fact of their special
reference to working people, while dis
graceful to the capitalism of a civilized
community, does not raise them to the
rank of economic measures. The only
bills entitled to be considered as such
were promptly defeated, viz: An act to
incorporate labor organizations and an
other making eight hours a days work
for the State and municipalities.
In the second place, it were idle for
any one, at this late day, to oppose inde-
pendent political action ON any ground
whatever. The Labor Party is an &C
complished fact. 1t has come to stay
and its final triumph is only question
of time, to be determined by circum
stances, among which the dilatory policy
of timid leaders is becoming of less mn
port every day. The movement ha
quired an irresistible force-a force
compelled Mr.. Powderly himself la A
to appear on the Cooper Union platt>
where he performed plain but superIr--
GUS duty in advising the Knights to vote
for Henry George.-N. \. Leaden